Entrepreneurs ‘need to be nurtured in food and drinks industry’

ENTREPRENEURIAL talent in the near €20 billion Irish food and drinks industry needs to be continually nurtured, the inaugural Cork Food Forum was told in Ballincollig

The forum, organised by Cork County and City Enterprise Boards, was aimed at small and medium food businesses that are keen to further their knowledge with regard to the opportunities and challenges in the Irish food sector.

It also showcased several accomplished local food businesses and looked at the key strategies that have helped their companies succeed.

South Cork Enterprise Board chief executive Sean O’Sullivan said almost 50,000 people are directly employed in the food and drinks sector countrywide with a further 60,000 indirectly employed.

The industry also uses 90% of the output of Ireland’s 120,000 farmers.

“Therefore, food business is a vital part of our economy, and as such, we need to monitor market trends and developments so that we can continue to nurture new entrepreneurial talent within this area,” he said.

Mr O’Sullivan said the forum was the culmination of several years’ food training and mentoring among start-up businesses in Munster.

The Cork County and City Enterprise Boards, along with its counterparts in other counties, have been providing ongoing support for food businesses since the early 1990s.

Over the last three years, a successful Advanced Food Programme for start-up small and medium enterprises was developed.

It helps these food companies to improve their brand marketing activities and fully exploit new sales opportunities.

Mr O’Sullivan said it was felt the time was right to host a function that brought together aspiring entrepreneurs with food companies that have successfully come through the difficult start-up phase.

Conor Hyde, managing director, Bullseye Food Marketing, the marketing consultancy firm running the training scheme, said the forum offered the perfect opportunity for new and established business people to meet and discuss their experiences.

“It is important to remember that the Irish food and drink sector exports 80% of its output to over 100 countries around the world.

“Therefore, the significance of growing these SMEs and providing them with education, training and support should not be underestimated,” he said.

Bord Bia chief executive Aidan Cotter, Friends First chief economist Jim Power who is heading the Love Irish Food initiative, Fiona Cox, Greenstreets Environmental Resources, and Denise O’Callaghan, the Cork businesswoman, who established Delicious Gluten Free Bakery were among the speakers.